Bill > HB200

This bill, known as the America First Act, establishes a comprehensive set of measures aimed at addressing immigration enforcement at the state level in Ohio. The bill requires law enforcement agencies and detention facilities to actively cooperate with federal immigration authorities, mandating that they report and detain individuals suspected of being unlawfully present in the United States. Under the bill, a person who is unlawfully present in the United States is prohibited from entering or being in Ohio, with violations classified as a fifth-degree felony that can be elevated to a fourth-degree felony under certain circumstances, such as previous convictions or prior deportation. The bill imposes mandatory prison terms of twelve months for violations and requires offenders to be reported to immigration authorities. Additionally, the legislation introduces financial penalties for local government entities that do not comply with the new immigration enforcement requirements, potentially reducing their local government fund payments. The bill also mandates that offenders exit the state within seventy-two hours after conviction and allows for identifying information to be collected and cross-referenced with criminal databases. Importantly, offenders are not eligible for community control, residential, or nonresidential sanctions, and the bill provides some limited defenses, such as for individuals who were previously approved under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program between June 15, 2012, and July 16, 2021.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb200